More Technical Than You Think
There's more to drifting than you might imagine. It's truly a technical art, especially when you combine tight corners with entry speeds approaching 100mph.
The four main criteria for a proper drift are line, angle, speed and overall impact. Like racing, there's an ideal line to follow. This is marked by reference points on the course where the vehicles' front and rear bumpers should come as close as they can. There are also transition zones where drivers must change the direction of their drift.
Angle is also important - the more sideways you get while maintaining control, the higher the potential score.
Although it's not a race to the finish line, a vehicle's speed is measured from start to finish. Top speeds are measured and considered by the judges in the final points tally.
Finally, the overall impact of the drift is scored based on these elements and the driver's style.
Because cars are judged in head-to-head tandem battles, the judges only need determine which of the two cars was better. This removes the necessity for an overall score, so you're only as good as the car you're racing against. Therefore, consistency and accuracy are critical.